Blackjack Rules - Know Your Game

The rules are fairly simple in basic blackjack. Try to get as close to 21 without going over, while trying to beat the dealer's hand. It's been one of the most popular games in casinos around the world for centuries, and it is now taking over the online gambling world as well. With blackjack rules being fairly simple, players flock to the game because of that short learning curve and the hand-by-hand basis upon which the game is played.

Basic blackjack rules are easy to learn

No strategy necessary to have a genuine blackjack experience

Learn new rules to new game variations any time

Expand your game knowledge at your own pace

Getting to know the game is as simple as learning a few basic rules of blackjack. With a few standard terms and the concept of 21, players can compete in a number of blackjack variations and enjoy the great entertainment the game provides. The game crosses language and cultural barriers, and players around the world enjoy a basic game of blackjack!

Back to Blackjack Rules Basics

Blackjack rules are rather simple, but there are many game variations that allow players to spice it up. Play one hand or multiple hands, use one deck or multiple decks, or compete in variants that really put rule knowledge and strategic applications to the test. Players have quite a few choices when it comes to online blackjack, and every site that we recommend spells out the rules of each game so each player has a fair chance to compete. By simply learning the rules of blackjack, players can win money at the game.

The game of 21 has been played with the same premise since the 1600s in Spain and later in France. Reach a score of 21, with the ace being valued at either 1 or 11, do not go over 21, and beat the dealer. Early versions of the game eliminated eights, nines, and tens from the decks, but full decks were used going forward. When the game traveled to the United States in gambling houses, blackjack rules consisted of bonuses paid to players who showed the ace of spades or a black jack card. The bonus hand was called blackjack, and the name became a tradition and overshadowed the name of 21. Today, the term "blackjack" now only refers to the game itself but a winning hand containing an ace and a ten or face card, of any suit or colour.

The basic blackjack rules as they stand today involve two cards for the player and two for the dealer. Face cards count as ten points, and the ace can be 1 or 11 points, with other cards bearing their own face value. The player receives two cards and can hit to take additional cards, trying to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. The dealer shows one card face up and one face down as the player makes his or her choices. The dealer then turns over the mystery card and plays with the same goal - get closer to 21 or bust. A bust for the dealer is an automatic player win, if the player did not bust. The dealer also has to stay at 17 points and not take any further cards. If the player has the best hand, the player wins. If the dealer and player have the same number of points, the push leaves all bets to continue on to the next hand with no win or loss.

Blackjack Rule Variations Increase Enjoyment

How can the rules change in blackjack? The basics do not change, actually, but some of the intricacies of the game can be altered. The most common variations to the blackjack rules come in two forms. First, the dealer most often stands on soft 17, which is a hand involving an ace, but some games offer the option of the dealer hitting that hand, which increases the house's edge in the game by a small fraction of a percent. The other common variation is to play with a single deck or multiple decks, as fewer decks decrease the house edge and increase player odds.

Splitting cards is something players enjoy, and the blackjack rule that allows the option to resplit offers players more action on a hand. Some games allow doubling down after a split, which increases the player edge. Some casinos offer a "no hole card" version of the game in which the dealer does not draw or look at the second card until all players make decisions, which changes splitting and doubling strategies but gives the house a bit of an extra edge. Many players like to challenge themselves with new blackjack rules and game variations to spice up the game and keep it interesting, which is why we recommend online casinos with so many blackjack options.